Earth drilling equipment



Feb. 11, 1969 J. BLAND 3,426,857

EARTH DRILLING EQUIPMENT Filed June 6. 1966 Feb. 1 l, 1969 J. BLAND EARTH DRILLING EQUIPMENT Shet Filed June 6, 1966 awww-Z 1 naw L Feb. 11, 1969 J. BLAND EARTH DRILLING EQUIPMENT Sheet Filed June 6, 1966 @gozom. I

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EARTH DRILLING EQUIPMENT Filed June a. 1966 Sheet 4 01 Feb. 11, 1969 .1. BLAND EARTH DRILLING EQUIPMENT Sheet Filed June 6, 1966 United States Patent 3,426,857 EARTH DRILLING EQUIPMENT John Bland, Epping, England, assignor to Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Limited, London, England Filed June 6, 1966, Ser. No. 555,359 U.S. Cl. 173-163 6 'Claims Int. Cl. E21c 1/02; E21b 3/04 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An earth boring rig having a jib with a supporting frame detachably secured thereto and a platform adjustably mounted on said frame. The platform is provided with a rotatable guide member for driving a drilling rod or bar that has a bit or auger connected to an end thereof. The platform is secured on said frame in such a manner as to provide a secure support for the drilling rod or bar while permitting said rod or bar to move vertically with respect to the platform.

This invention relates to equipment, for use in earth drilling, which may be attached to and detached from the jib of an existing basic machine, and provides such equipment comprising an elongate rigid supporting frame having an intermediate straight portion and shaped so as to be mountable on the jib with one end pivoted on the pivotal axis of the jib, another end attached to the jib at a region spaced from the said axis, and its straight portion extending substantially vertically, and a platform mounted on the straight portion of the frame, the platform projecting perpendicularly from the straight portion, being adjustable in the direction parallel thereto and carrying a rotatable guide for driving a kelly bar suspended therethrough from the jib and power transmission means for rotating the guide.

The summary of the invention The present invention is directed to a support that is detachably mounted on the jib of an earth boring rig and wherein said support is formed with an intermediate straight segment that is disposed in a vertical plane which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drilling rod or bar. In addition, a platform is adjustably secured to the intermediate segment of the support and said platform is provided with a rotary guide for receiving and guiding the drilling rod or bar.

The vertical adjustability of the platform carrying the rotary guide is an important advantage not obtainable with prior constructions, permitting the platform to be set to suit the convenience of the job and to accommodate lining tubes of different lengths. In addition the mounting of the platform on a support frame attached to the jib as defined above gives greater stability at high drilling speeds than prior constructions such as those in which the platform is secured directly to an intermediate region of the jib and/or is supported wholly or mainly by cables suspended from the top of the jib.

For greater efficiency and ease of control, operation and maintenance, it is preferred to employ hydraulic hydrostatic transmission. A particularly advantageous hydraulic hydrostatic system for rotating the guide comprises a variable delivery pump serving a plurality of hydraulic motors drive-coupled to the rotary guide and controlled by a respective plurality of control valves. The pump may be driven independently or by the engine of the basic machine and the valves, preferably also operable hydraulically from the cab of the machine, are arranged so that any number of the motors can be operated by the pump to drive the guide in one direction. A plu- 3,426,857 Patented Feb. I1, 1969 rality of speeds and torques are thus available for boring, and digging speed can be simply controlled according to ground conditions and the size of tool being used. At least one of the motors is preferably reversible so that the kelly bar can be rotated in the reverse direction for discharging spoil, and it is of course possible for all the motors to be reversible so that the rotary guide can be driven in either direction at all available speeds.

Presently preferred embodiments of the equipment according to the invention will now be further described, by Way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view, partly in section, showing the equipment mounted for operation on a basic machine;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing in greater detail parts of the platform carrying the rotary guide;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view, partly in section, showing parts of the platform carrying the rotary guide;

FIG. 5 is a hydraulic circuit diagram showing a preferred arrangement of the motors and valves of the hydraulic transmission system;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation, in section, of a preferred form of telescopic kelly bar for use with the equipment according to the invention, and

FIG. 7 is a plan view, in section, taken on the lines VII-VII of FIG. 6;

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown schematically an excavating machine 2 having a cabin 4 rotatably mounted on caterpillar tracks 6 and provided with jib 8 pivotally mounted on a cross-shaft 10. A rigid support frame 12 is also pivoted at its lower end on shaft 10, its upper end being attached at 14 to an intermediate region of the jib, which is shown in its operating position in which the straight portion 16 of the frame extends vertically. The frame 12 is additionally tied to the excavator by guy 7. A platform 18 projects horizontally from the portion 16 of the frame and carries a rotatable guide 20 driven by four hydraulic motors 22 controlled by four respective servo-valves 24 (FIGS. 3 and 4). A kelly bar 28, suspended from the drag rope 30 of the excavator, and provided with guide ropes 33 (FIG. 2), passes through and engages with the guide 20 and has a drilling auger 32 universally connected to its lower end. The pressure and exhaust lines serving the motors 22 and control valves 24 (FIGS. 3 and 4) are shown schematically at 26, extending up the back face of frame 12 and thence down to the platform 18. The motors are driven by a variable delivery pump 9 run from the engine 11 of the excavator or from an independent power source.

The platform 18 is clamped and bolted to frame 12 so as to be readily releasable for securing at a different height on portion 16. The upper end of the frame at 14- is also clamped to the jib for easy detachment so that the Whole assembly of frame and platform can be simply and efiiciently removed for mounting on another machine.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4 the rotatable guide comprises a large horizontal spur gear wheel 34 permanently in mesh with four symmetrically disposed peripheral spur gear pinions 36 which are driven by the respective hydaulic hydrostatic motors 22. The wheel 34 has a central opening 38 in which the kelly bar 28 is axially slidable whilst engaging therewith for axial rotation by way of longitudinally extending keys or splines 40 mating with corresponding key-ways 42 formed in the opening 38. Operation of the motors 22 causes axial rotation of wheel 34 and hence of bar 28 and the attached auger 32, the kelly bar moving downwards through wheel 34 as the hole is dug. At intervals drilling may be stopped and the kelly bar and auger lifted from the hole and rtated in reverse to discharge the spoil.

FIG. is a circuit diagram showing a preferred arrangement of the hydraulic hydrostatic motors and their control valves. In this figure the control valves, operable hydraulically from the cabin by the driver of the machine, are indicated by the reference numerals 44 and 46, and the motors by reference numerals 23 and 25; the variable delivery pump, run by motor 47, is indicated at 48, a filter at 50, a boost pump at 52, pressure relief valves at 54, a check valve at 56 and a reservoir at 58. With the arrangement shown the rotatable guide can be driven for boring using one, two, three or four of the motors, so that four speeds and four torques are available, thus giving great operational flexibility. Control valve 44 is operable to reverse motor 23 so that, for discharging spoil, the rotatable guide can be driven in reverse, at maximum speed, on this motor. It is of course possible to arrange for two or more of the motors to be reversible.

A preferred form of telescopic kelly bar for use in conjunction with the equipment according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The telescopic bar is formed by an outer cylindrical tube 69 housing an axially slidable inner cylindrical tube 62. Within the upper and lower ends of tube 62 are secured respective close fitting cores 64 and 66 which project vertically for attachment to the suspension from the jib and to the drilling auger respectively, the lower end of the inner tube having an outwardly extending flange 67 on which the lower end of outer tube 60 normally rests. The outer tube 60 has longitudinal keys or splines 68 for engaging the key-ways 42 in the opening 38 of gear wheel 34; a lining 70 is secured around the inner surface of the lower end of tube 60 providing key-ways 72 which are engaged by longitudinal keys 74 on the tube 62 (FIG. 7), so that the outer and inner tubes are driven in unison by the rotatable guide. The outer tube has an outwardly extending flange or flanges 75 at its upper end to prevent it passing completely through the rotary guide 20 as the kelly bar descends during boring, and a retaining ring 76 for the inner tube 62 is secured to the core 64, fitting between the top of tube 62 and an annular shoulder 78 of core 64; the ring 76 extends radially beyond the wall of the inner tube and the shoulder 78 to form a sliding fit with the surface of outer tube 60 and serves as a stop for abutting against the top surface of lining 70 to prevent the tube 62 from descending out of engagement with the outer tube 60.

On commencement of digging the inner and outer tubes descend through the drive wheel 34 together, tube 60 resting under its own weight on flange 67 of the inner tube, until flange 75 abuts against the rotary guide 20, whereafter the inner tube descends through the outer until arrested by engagement of retaining ring 76 with lining 7 (l.

The above described kelly bar has been found to be very strong and to result in less whip than is experienced in the use of previous constructions.

The digging efi'iciency of the hydraulically driven equipment described above is generally sufiiciently high to obviate the necessity of providing a pull-down device to assist lowering of the kelly bar and auger during drilling. Such a device can however be included.

The invention also provides a hydraulic hydrostatic transmission system comprising a plurality of hydraulic hydrostatic motors connected in parallel with a common drive pump therefor and drive-coupling in parallel to a common power output member, the system including one or more control valves each of which is operable to selectively connect and disconnect one or more of the motors with the drive pump.

I claim:

1. In combination, a ground-supported machine having an inclined jib, said jib having a lower end, an upper end and an intermediate portion; horizontal pivot means in said machine, said lower end of said jib being pivotally mounted on said horizontal pivot means; an auxili y beam, said auxiliary beam having a lower end detachably pivotally mounted on said horizontal pivot means, an upper end releasably secured to said intermediate portion of said jib, and an intermediate straight portion extending vertically; a platform releasably attached to said straight portion of said auxiliary beam and projecting horizontally from said straight portion whereby said platform is vertically adjustable on said straight portion; a kelly bar suspended from said upper end of said jib and extending vertically through said platform; a rotatable guide carried by said platform, said rotatable guide surrounding said kelly bar and drivingly engaging therewith; power transmission means on said platform for rotating said rotatable guide; and drive means for driving said power transmission means; an earth-drilling tool mounted on the lower end of said kelly bar below said platform; and hoist means for raising and lowering said kelly bar vertically.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said power transmission means includes a plurality of hydraulic motors drive-coupled in parallel with said rotatable guide, and wherein said drive means comprises a drive pump, a motor for driving said drive pump, and hydraulic fluid conduit means joining said drive pump and said hydraulic motors in parallel, said power transmission means additionally including at least one valve means operable to selectively hydraulically connect and disconnect at least one of said hydraulic motors with said drive pump,

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said kelly bar comprises an inner, cylindrical, externally splined tube having respective upper and lower core members secured in and projecting vertically from its upper and lower ends, said inner tube having a first outwardly projecting flange means at its lower end; an outer, cylindrical, externally splined tube telescoped over said inner tube, said outer tube being axially slidable relative to said inner tube and resting on said first outwardly extending flange means of said inner tube; a lining member disposed in the lower end of said outer tube and secured thereto, said lining member being shaped to provide key-ways therein and slidingly mating with said externally splined inner tube, whereby said inner and outer tube are axially rotatable in unison; a second outwardly projecting flange means at the upper end of said inner tube of external diameter intermediate the inner diameters of said outer tube and said lining whereby to prevent said inner tube from sliding out of engagement with said outer tube; and stop means at the upper end of said outer tube preventing said outer tube sliding out of engagement with said rotatable guide; said earth drilling tool being universally coupled to said lower core member of said inner tube and suspension means being attached to said upper core member of said inner tube and suspending said inner tube from said jib.

4. An earth boring rig comprising a ground supported basic machine, horizontal pivot means in said basic machine, and a jib pivoted about said horizontal pivot means; a beam having a first end releasably pivoted about said horizontal pivot means, a second end releasably secured to said jib and a straight intermediate portion between said first and second ends extending vertically; a horizontal platform releasably mounted on said straight portion of said beam whereby to be adjustable vertically relative thereto; a gear wheel rotatably mounted horizontally on said platform; a structure defining an aperture through said gear wheel; a kelly bar suspended vertically from said jib through said aperture, said kelly bar mating with said aperture in rotary driving engagement with said gear wheel; an earth-boring tool universally secured to the lower end of said kelly bar below said platform; hoist means for raising and lowering said kelly bar vertically through said aperture in said gear wheel; a plurality of hydraulic hydrostatic motors mounted on said platform and a respective plurality of gear pinions drive-coupled separately with said hydraulic motors, said gear pinions being disposed symmetrically around said gearwheel in permanent mesh therewith; a hydraulic drive pump, drive means for actuating said drive pump, and hydraulic fluid conduit means hydraulically connecting said drive pump and said hydraulic motors in parallel, whereby said hydraulic motors are operable to rotate said gear wheel and said kelly bar in unison; and valve means in said hydraulic fluid conduit means for selectively disconnecting and connecting at least one of said hydraulic motors and said drive pump whereby to vary the speed and torque imparted to said gearwheel.

5. The earth-boring rig of claim 4 wherein said hydraulic drive pump is a variable delivery pump.

6. The earth-boring rig of claim 4 including further valve means in said hydraulic fluid conduit means oper- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,971,922 8/1934 Smith 173163 X 2,007,666 7/1935 Smith 175-162 X 2,081,200 5/1937 Hollingsworth 173-163 X 2,276,016 3/1942 Brantly 175-220 X 2,631,013 3/1953 Darin l75-195 X 3,301,334 1/1967 Odgers 175-463 X 3,330,164 7/1967 Wilson 173163 X NILE C. BYERS, JR., Primary Examiner. 

